Post by High Priestess on Dec 30, 2015 17:48:05 GMT
Dee shared Dec 28 2015
Discount enquiries
Do many of you get enquiries, asking for discounts?
I've had 1 for my double, which there's already a 14% discount, which is equivalent to 1 night free for each full week, so I didn't offer anymore off and another for my single, which is not discounted, but I did offer 1 night free.
I think I read somewhere that these type of guests, could be potentially problem guests, is this true? If so i will have to start declining, at the moment I'm just replying and leaving them open.
C C
Do not give discounts.
Queenie & Ted
You can reply that you don't give discounts since your listing is already reasonably priced for weekly and monthly stays.
Deborah
People asking for discounts, are indicating that they undervalue what you are offering. This can be a sign of trouble.
Dee
Thanks. That's what I thought.
Mizuki
I have one guest staying for 8 nights, they got the weekly discount (8%) PLUS a 1 night free for the night they said they're not staying (said they plan a short 1 night trip out of the city). Then few weeks later they came back and asked if they can drop their luggage few days earlier than their scheduled check-in, they got that too, then another week later they said they want to add another guest and demanded a discount. I finally said NO. You'd be surprised how people can walk all over you if you let them and if you keep feeding, Lol! I plan to hold onto their keys for that 1 night out that they said they're not staying, to see if they're truthful in their words. After this, no more bending!
Dee
I hope it goes better then it's started!
C C
If you give them a discount, they literally will not respect you in the morning.
Dee
Thanks.
Penny
Awesome advice CC, I agree with all above. I just had a group of four people. Two checking in at midnight Friday other group at 8am on Saturday, the Saturday couple did not want to pay for the Friday night and stated "we expect you to remove the $60 cost since they were not staying the Fri night". This was AFTER they booked. I advised they had booked knowing all costs did not discuss this before booking whereby I would have pointed out that not only were they wanting to check in 10 hours early that the person checking their friends in at midnight needed to be available late and I would have to wait up in case their were issues (and there were). I advised my price is fair and reasonable as it is more than just a bed I offer I help my guests plan a memorable stay! They were free to cancel and book elsewhere. They were more than happy when I pointed these things out and were great (although demanding and in contact very regularly).
C C
Thank you, Penny
Dee
Do any of you offer a weekly discount, like I do for my double? I'm happy to keep that, but refuse to discount even more on request.
Maggie
Between this two days, i receive 3 people ask for discount. A lady want to book a month, ask for half price!
Dee
How did you reply?
Deborah
I do offer weekly discounts -- these are discounts which are already factored into your price. I also offer monthly discounts. WHich is all the more reason why no one should come asking me for more of a discount -- they would then be asking literally for discount on top of discount, -- sometimes they are wanting three whole levels of discount. Some of these people would STILL complain even if you just gave them the whole stay for free. So beware of the hagglers and those asking for more and more and more for less and less.
Andrew
I don't offer weekly discounts, mostly because I'm not seeking to attract longer-term bookings. I do vary the nightly cost according to season and day of the week, but in order to make communication with the guests as easy as possible I prefer not to advertise discounts and exceptions that they might attempt to use to "negotiate." I have zero interest in having people in my home if they undervalue my room, which even in high season cheaper than a private room in a crappy hostel.
I've also found that the number of people requesting refunds steadily decreased the more reviews I got, and the more my calendar stayed full. Newer hosts probably attract more guests who think they're desperate for business.
C C
What I mean by don't give discounts is once your prices, discounted or not, are set, do not accept less & do not hesitate to say no when asked.
Andrew
Agree 100%
Dee
I registered in June, but didnt dtart hosting until 26th septeber, my bookings have been steady and reviews are good. I removed the discount off my single room and the monthly discount off my double, as I no longer wanted to attract long term guest. I'm still getting bookings, some in advance and some last minute, but had a few request for discounts over the last few weeks, I think it's because they may have seen cheaper rooms out there and maybe trying their luck to see who will budge on price? I will just say no, sorry and from now on and avoid potential trouble.
Dee
I've not changed my prices over the holidays, as I'm still getting bookings, but it's something I've considered if my bookings stop coming in. It's still early days for me and I'm happy if I'm booked 3 weeks out of 4, as it mean I can get some rest, if not booked.
C C
I love your profile pic. It makes you look very friendly!
Louise
I don't discount, ever. Guests who stay more than a week get a free clean each week. This annoys me and I wish there was someway of automatically levying the cleaning fee for each week of their stay so I could recoup this.
I think offering a discount for longer stays is absurd. Long stay guests use more resources per day, not less, than short stay guests. Also, my ideal guests are 2 couples staying for 3 - 4 days. They tend to eat out every night and don't need to use the laundry.
I firmly believe, based on my own observation, that the people who think they've got a 'bargain' don't value the experience as highly. The higher the price a buyer pays, the more highly they need to value that item. If they don't, they suffer the negative consequence of feeling the bad emotion, 'buyer's remorse'.
Even if a buyer doesn't authentically value it highly, they will talk themselves into it in order to avoid emotional pain caused by the cognitive dissonance between high cost and low experiential value. For this reason, I charge the highest price possible that the market will bear as this leads to better reviews. Of course, I also make sure I deliver an experience that matches the expectations created by that pricepoint.
Vicky
At the moment I have offered a massive weekly discount (was 30% but now 20%). It is very quiet in my area and there are hardly any guests so I am trying to attract longer guests because whilst I don't mind a cheaper price for a guaranteed week I am not going lower than £23 for odd nights. As soon asitpicks up I will remove the discount as I prefer short term guests of a few days and I had no problem getting as many of these bookings as I wanted in peak season.
I think it's less work for a one week stay as I only clean once instead of between stays but agree re using more resources as they are in more and cook more
Rick
I have to laugh! We experienced hosts seem to be a hard boiled lot! No discounts, harrumph! I didn't want you to stay that long anyway! We have endured trial by fire...we have been beaten down, cajoled & sometimes manipulated by the occasional "bad" guest--our bs meters are highly attuned...We have learned & are stronger....
Queenie & Ted
Rick, sounds like a blues song in the making! lol
Dee
Ha ha. Well since you mentioned it, it was bad guests that caused me to remove the discount on my single and the monthly discount from double!
C C
People who ask for a discount do not actually expect it. It's fine for them to ask. Just say no, like you've already practiced in the mirror.
Semion
I turn to disagree with a blatantly straight NO discount policy. One should consider few factors: rather have an occupancy then non, if you have a request and the room is empty I would rather get something than nothing. IMHO
Discount enquiries
Do many of you get enquiries, asking for discounts?
I've had 1 for my double, which there's already a 14% discount, which is equivalent to 1 night free for each full week, so I didn't offer anymore off and another for my single, which is not discounted, but I did offer 1 night free.
I think I read somewhere that these type of guests, could be potentially problem guests, is this true? If so i will have to start declining, at the moment I'm just replying and leaving them open.
C C
Do not give discounts.
Queenie & Ted
You can reply that you don't give discounts since your listing is already reasonably priced for weekly and monthly stays.
Deborah
People asking for discounts, are indicating that they undervalue what you are offering. This can be a sign of trouble.
Dee
Thanks. That's what I thought.
Mizuki
I have one guest staying for 8 nights, they got the weekly discount (8%) PLUS a 1 night free for the night they said they're not staying (said they plan a short 1 night trip out of the city). Then few weeks later they came back and asked if they can drop their luggage few days earlier than their scheduled check-in, they got that too, then another week later they said they want to add another guest and demanded a discount. I finally said NO. You'd be surprised how people can walk all over you if you let them and if you keep feeding, Lol! I plan to hold onto their keys for that 1 night out that they said they're not staying, to see if they're truthful in their words. After this, no more bending!
Dee
I hope it goes better then it's started!
C C
If you give them a discount, they literally will not respect you in the morning.
Dee
Thanks.
Penny
Awesome advice CC, I agree with all above. I just had a group of four people. Two checking in at midnight Friday other group at 8am on Saturday, the Saturday couple did not want to pay for the Friday night and stated "we expect you to remove the $60 cost since they were not staying the Fri night". This was AFTER they booked. I advised they had booked knowing all costs did not discuss this before booking whereby I would have pointed out that not only were they wanting to check in 10 hours early that the person checking their friends in at midnight needed to be available late and I would have to wait up in case their were issues (and there were). I advised my price is fair and reasonable as it is more than just a bed I offer I help my guests plan a memorable stay! They were free to cancel and book elsewhere. They were more than happy when I pointed these things out and were great (although demanding and in contact very regularly).
C C
Thank you, Penny
Dee
Do any of you offer a weekly discount, like I do for my double? I'm happy to keep that, but refuse to discount even more on request.
Maggie
Between this two days, i receive 3 people ask for discount. A lady want to book a month, ask for half price!
Dee
How did you reply?
Deborah
I do offer weekly discounts -- these are discounts which are already factored into your price. I also offer monthly discounts. WHich is all the more reason why no one should come asking me for more of a discount -- they would then be asking literally for discount on top of discount, -- sometimes they are wanting three whole levels of discount. Some of these people would STILL complain even if you just gave them the whole stay for free. So beware of the hagglers and those asking for more and more and more for less and less.
Andrew
I don't offer weekly discounts, mostly because I'm not seeking to attract longer-term bookings. I do vary the nightly cost according to season and day of the week, but in order to make communication with the guests as easy as possible I prefer not to advertise discounts and exceptions that they might attempt to use to "negotiate." I have zero interest in having people in my home if they undervalue my room, which even in high season cheaper than a private room in a crappy hostel.
I've also found that the number of people requesting refunds steadily decreased the more reviews I got, and the more my calendar stayed full. Newer hosts probably attract more guests who think they're desperate for business.
C C
What I mean by don't give discounts is once your prices, discounted or not, are set, do not accept less & do not hesitate to say no when asked.
Andrew
Agree 100%
Dee
I registered in June, but didnt dtart hosting until 26th septeber, my bookings have been steady and reviews are good. I removed the discount off my single room and the monthly discount off my double, as I no longer wanted to attract long term guest. I'm still getting bookings, some in advance and some last minute, but had a few request for discounts over the last few weeks, I think it's because they may have seen cheaper rooms out there and maybe trying their luck to see who will budge on price? I will just say no, sorry and from now on and avoid potential trouble.
Dee
I've not changed my prices over the holidays, as I'm still getting bookings, but it's something I've considered if my bookings stop coming in. It's still early days for me and I'm happy if I'm booked 3 weeks out of 4, as it mean I can get some rest, if not booked.
C C
I love your profile pic. It makes you look very friendly!
Louise
I don't discount, ever. Guests who stay more than a week get a free clean each week. This annoys me and I wish there was someway of automatically levying the cleaning fee for each week of their stay so I could recoup this.
I think offering a discount for longer stays is absurd. Long stay guests use more resources per day, not less, than short stay guests. Also, my ideal guests are 2 couples staying for 3 - 4 days. They tend to eat out every night and don't need to use the laundry.
I firmly believe, based on my own observation, that the people who think they've got a 'bargain' don't value the experience as highly. The higher the price a buyer pays, the more highly they need to value that item. If they don't, they suffer the negative consequence of feeling the bad emotion, 'buyer's remorse'.
Even if a buyer doesn't authentically value it highly, they will talk themselves into it in order to avoid emotional pain caused by the cognitive dissonance between high cost and low experiential value. For this reason, I charge the highest price possible that the market will bear as this leads to better reviews. Of course, I also make sure I deliver an experience that matches the expectations created by that pricepoint.
Vicky
At the moment I have offered a massive weekly discount (was 30% but now 20%). It is very quiet in my area and there are hardly any guests so I am trying to attract longer guests because whilst I don't mind a cheaper price for a guaranteed week I am not going lower than £23 for odd nights. As soon asitpicks up I will remove the discount as I prefer short term guests of a few days and I had no problem getting as many of these bookings as I wanted in peak season.
I think it's less work for a one week stay as I only clean once instead of between stays but agree re using more resources as they are in more and cook more
Rick
I have to laugh! We experienced hosts seem to be a hard boiled lot! No discounts, harrumph! I didn't want you to stay that long anyway! We have endured trial by fire...we have been beaten down, cajoled & sometimes manipulated by the occasional "bad" guest--our bs meters are highly attuned...We have learned & are stronger....
Queenie & Ted
Rick, sounds like a blues song in the making! lol
Dee
Ha ha. Well since you mentioned it, it was bad guests that caused me to remove the discount on my single and the monthly discount from double!
C C
People who ask for a discount do not actually expect it. It's fine for them to ask. Just say no, like you've already practiced in the mirror.
Semion
I turn to disagree with a blatantly straight NO discount policy. One should consider few factors: rather have an occupancy then non, if you have a request and the room is empty I would rather get something than nothing. IMHO
